Virginia Regulatory Town Hall
Agency
Department of Education
 
Board
State Board of Education
 
Guidance Document Change: The Model Policies for the Treatment of Transgender Students in Virginia’s Public Schools guidance document was developed in response to House Bill 145 and Senate Bill 161, enacted by the 2020 Virginia General Assembly, which directed the Virginia Department of Education to develop and make available to each school board model policies concerning the treatment of transgender students in public elementary and secondary schools. These guidelines address common issues regarding transgender students in accordance with evidence-based best practices and include information, guidance, procedures, and standards relating to: compliance with applicable nondiscrimination laws; maintenance of a safe and supportive learning environment free from discrimination and harassment for all students; prevention of and response to bullying and harassment; maintenance of student records; identification of students; protection of student privacy and the confidentiality of sensitive information; enforcement of sex-based dress codes; and student participation in sex-specific school activities, events, and use of school facilities.
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1/16/21  2:44 pm
Commenter: Denise H. Calton

Strongly Opposed for Three Reasons
 

I am opposed to any school policy regarding gender identity for three reasons. First, these policies usurp parental authority for making decisions regarding their own children - it is a responsibility and STEWARDSHIP that belongs to them alone and should not be infringed. Second, science claims that human beings, during the developmental stages of life, experience gender dysphoria. No one can pretend to know better than science or God what the truth of the matter is and because this is a controversial subject, it should be left alone. Private citizens are free to draw their own conclusions. Third, these policies create inequality. Government does not get to determine whose belief system is right and whose is wrong, to do so would destroy freedom of conscience and freedom of religion afforded to every individual by the Constitution. For government to assume such a role would cause reverse discrimination against a whole segment of society. The purpose of law is not to protect the "feelings" of certain people, it is to ensure that every person has an equal opportunity to learn, grow, and build character from the opposition and adversity they encounter in everyday life. It is the only way to gain experience, learn self-control and integrate into society in healthy ways. Promote those policies that tolerate the beliefs of all and gives special privileges to none.

CommentID: 90386